Automatic telephone system.



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A. E. KEITH & J. &. c. J. BRICKSON.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE $YSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 18, 1905.

Patented June 30; 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

amgfi QZAi M A. H. KB1TH & J. & O. J. BRIGKSON. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONESYSTEM. APPLIGATION FILED-SEPT 18, 1905? 1,101,858 Patented June 30,191

MEETS-SHEET s.

fiaf m UTOMATIC TELEPHOEE SYSTE APPLICATION FILED $33118, 1905.

l b GETS-SHEET 4;.

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ALEXANDER E. KEITH, EDEN EBIGKQQH, A3373 CHARLES J. EHICKSON, OFCHICAGG', ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR-S. BY MES'HE ETlSIZG-NTEENTS, [530 FIRSTTRUST AND SAVINGS BANK TRUSTEE, OF

To all whom it may concern Be it known that We, ilinnxisnnu E. KEITH, 5JOHN ERIOKSON- and CHARLES J. Enicnsoini citizens of the United Statesof Amer-iced and residents of Chicago, loolt county, Illinois, haveinvented 11, certain new and useful 5 Improvenientin Automatic TelephoneSys-Z terns, of which the following is a specifics-g tion. 7

Our invention relates to calling devices! for use in automatic telephonesystems and? more particularly in systems in which elec-ltrically-propelled and step-by-step-aetuatedg switching machines areemployed, as, for? example, the Well lnou'n individual-j switches,selectors and conneclx employed in automatic telephone syste for;enabling a calling subscriber to establish the desired connection withthe called sutseribers line, withoutthe stance of e: switchboardoperator. or for at least act-mnplishingz one or more of the connectiveoper 5 :itions usually performed liy switchboard operators. 7

Heretojore as is well known, the rotatable; dial or Wheel, employed manyautomaticsysteins, and constituting the calling deigice by which onesubscriber calls the number of another subscriber, has .71 or" en chatactor that its forward rotation by the su't scriber produces no mulze-anl-htreuir notion in the line-circuits, and consequently pr? dunes noimpulses during forward rots tion and the consequent Winding up of thespring by which it is returned. to its normal position; but when it isreleased by the culling subscri'oer and allowed to return tog its normalposition, under the influence oi its spring, a certain number ofimpulses are; then transmitted over one side of the line. according tothe character of the digit being called, and the degree of rotationgiven the dial or Wheel; and when there sue JSSiYG impulses have beentransmitted (WGI the so called Vertical side of the subscribefs line:that is to say, that side of the line over which: the impulses aretransmitted for'gii 'ing any switching machine a vertical step-hystepmotion of its sWitch-shaft-e single impulse Specification o Lettersintent.

oe'ioeeo, rumors.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHDEE $YSTEM.

Patented June 30, 1914.

Eerie} 1%. 278,901.

is then transmitted over the so-called rotaryline-conductor for thepurpose of eflecting the automatic rotation of aselector-switch until itfinds an idle trunk-line, or for the purpose of putting the mechanism ofa connector-switch in such condition that the next group of impulsestransmitted over the verticaldine-conductor will produce the desiredstep-by-step rotation of theFconnectorswitch-shaft until the particularline of? the called subscriber is found and connection made therewith.With this arengeiuent, it evident that the so-called individuel-switehis operated by the first. impulse prorjlueed by the rotatable dial orwheel when it is released by the calling subscriber for the time and assoon it starts to return to its normal position, this initial impulseemployed for giving the itch-shaft of the first-selector its initial orfir vertical step. in this Way, the calling subsc er does not cause theoperation of any switching machine--either an indi vidual switeh orfirst-selector-'untilf he releases his callingdevice for the first time,and the return of the dial or apertured Wheel to its normal position isthen accompanied by What is verv nearly a simultaneous operation of theindividual-switch and the firsts-doctor alth0ugh it is evident that thefirst vertical step of the firstselector cannot take place until afterthe nlse being also the ordinary or regular "'individuahswitch hasautomatically estahlished connection With the idle trunk-line extendingto such selector.

The objects of our invention are to pro vide an impaired arrangementandconstrnetion of the calling devices by which the subscribers producethe electrical inipulses or rapid make-and-break efi'ects correspondingto the several digits of any culled subscribers number; to provide anin'iprovcd construction and arrangement whereby the forward rotation ofthe dial or subscribers calling device produces a single long impulse orclosure of a grounded cir cuit including one side of the subscribersline, which single iiniulse produced by the the calling suhscribersreceiver; and to prforward rotation of the subscribers dial is capableof producing the desired automatic selection of an idle or non-busytrunloline, through the medium. of a individuah switch, and also the.first vertical. step of the firshselector or other switcl'iing inachinewith which the individualswitch has connected the. calling subscribersline; to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby thefor'vi' ard rotation of a subscribefs dial or calling device producesthe first vertical step of selector or other switching machine, andwhereby the release of such dial, and its consequent return. to itsnormal position, produces series of impulses of a character suitable foroperating automatic selector and connector switches; to provide animproved construction and arrangement for governing the re turn movementof the dial or subscribe s calling device., so as to insure against utoo rapid hElCli rotation or return movement of the same, and so as toinsure a proper trans mission of the electrical impulses; to pro vide animproved construction and arrange rncnt for governing the depression orreturn. of the subscribefis hook-switch to its normal position, when thesubscriber replaces his receiver upon the said hook, and for thusinsuring a proper transmission oil. the electrical impulse or impulsesby which the switching machinery at the central station is released orrestored automatically so to speak by the hanging up of vide certaindetails of constructirm and va rious other features of improvcinei'ittendingto increase the general cl'liciency, serviee ability andcertainty of operation of an au- 'igoniatic telephone svstcm.

inc; drawings, Figure 1 view of the ubstation a Front elem .l r .4 "itchand callin j 'inciples of our invention, upertured Wheel being 3 is aside elevauu shown in. hi 2, cera brolren away lor conlf'i g 4!- is an.en-

the inner poition oi I3 is a detail 2: local nor for controlling thereof the switch-hook and dial. 1 view of the .'-'id governing Ikilllportion-s i loved. Fig; and. view showing the pivr the s itch-hook, Fig.8 Inn of die nu han'ei'n shmvn a \'i(\\'ll'l'1llfil' (0 Fig su'il-lrlioolr in its (lepre rather than in the ra v in S 9 ill ed la isshown in li ies. 2 to S. ...:til new or ccrtain parts i shown in Figs. 8and 9, showing said parts in the positions given them by the initialrotation of the dial after the removal of the receiver from theswitch-hook. Fig. 11 is a perspective of the three integrally formedsvvitch-o ierating fingers which are mounted upon and operated by theswitchhoolr. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional View showing the constructionof the ground-circuit-controlliog-ar1n which is secured to the shaft oraxis of the dial, Fig. 1 1 is a section on line l3l3 in .llie 3. Fig. llis a iragnientzn'y perspective view of portion of the electricaliinpulsc-transmitling mechanism. l ig'. la is a perspective of the twoimpulse-springs. Figs. 16 to 21 inclusive, show the said impulse-springsof the sub serihers calling; mechanism, and illustrate toothed Wheel andthe grounded contact.

Fig. 1 shmvs diagran'nnatically the ch.

cuits and apparatus at the substation con nected to the line conductorsc and c, which are assumed to extend to a central station. and thereterminate in a suitable individual switch, These circuits and apparatus"will be more readily understood when considered in connection with theremaining drawings, which show the apparatus in. detail.

The construction of the subscribers bookswitches and. calling devices towhi h our invention relates, is as follows: Referring to to 21,inclusive, it will be seen that the framework comprises a. front plate 1and a back plate 8, the two being" rigidly connected together by thethree rods 2. Upon this framework all of the cpeative parts of thecalling and switch-hook niech animus are mounted in a suitable manner.lhe shaft 7 extends centrally through the said plates l. and 8, and isarranged to rotate freely in its bearings thereon, it dial or aperturedwheel 3 is rigidly secured to the front end 01' this shaft, shown indotted lines in. Fig. 2 and in full lines in liig'. I}. it will beunderstood that the said dial can be secured to the end olf the shaft inany suitable or desired manner. Near the pcriphery of the dial thereare, as will be observed. a series of openine's ten in n nth.-l.)er-sai(l openings being nuniberrxl consm-utivcly in any suitable or'lesirml manner. Directly behind the said, dial 2"), as shown in thedrawings, there is a clo lomring l. This spril're. is secured at one endto a projection on the front plate at the point l, and is heldcircunillarenlially by the projecting arms at. The inner end of lhisspring is fastened to the shaft 7 in such mauniu that itstensioin whenit, i \ymmd7 from the positions in which they are shown in Fig". f?example. Mounted upon this I 0 v shalt. 4 time is also a geei unzel 1 :8er

cle1. p 1 The mun z cured to said A pivo'tecl at the poinl- 49.

have a limited up anuflow novement when the rsceiver is removed andreplaced. will be i Z'tiilSlO'fl rigid secure to it anal to which isnwo'ted a on v cog the poms T. dog 34 1s, it will be seen, engaged byW31 :51 nominalv contact with flee i8. Funnier-moss, this (log is soarranged chat the hook wiil, when T116 receiver removed therefrom, movefreely over teeth the gennwhsel 48 Wit-lieu; engug ing these teeth butwhen she receiver is hung); upon the hook, fine dog is Contact with rileteeth of the gear-wheei 4:8, and as the hook moves clown to its normalor depressed positio ill-e Q'QHYJVllEQl is iiierebj; cuuseri recon-swith it; but when the hook has csn cl its downward motion, the saidg8fi1=wli85l may then conlinue to is, to the mom (in; has

"iiwn been given it, es the pos; ion of spring SJ holds it in -IJwill-allow the (log is move freely OVEX the teeth of ihe gear-wheel asit continues its i'oiiii'ion. The noel; and she clog shown detail in ai, and 106. of

I v x '1 pivoting toe nook nee-ween me plsie and S s11 own in pa le-i eov big-'10. and ,cssnilileil on frame The release gull} to the uh o. 1 wepoint 521. it its upper extremity, the mini 21 is proviaed with ainsulaiion Fleur its central poiwioi'u it is also provided with armhaving a lateral projeciicn 91 and at its lower it is provirlccl withanother arm having the projection 21. i hen Zl'ifi telephone receiverrests upon the lzooiz, lat-fey clown, as shown in Fig. 9, the arm 21than rests upon llic ac-called Yingingcircuit-spring 28, causing theconczici's of ilie springs 26, 28 mini 29 to be brought in the positionsshown in 9. "when. the recs 1" is removed F this ilim i1" is then(liscui ringcrspi'in-g 28, allowing t 26 28 and 29 to he ii File Min 46'1, hook at 46 llS ex- (1 by the spring 1L i-igmiy seciuei'l to theouror in'ipulse-whcelalien drawn into norsl on iion The tension of shisspring tends always to keep the receiver-hook in an elevatedposition-411st is,' when the receiver noi; i i place upon the book. Asthe hook moves in an up'vunl ifiirection, the arm 21 passes by the from;no of a projection allotted to reissue-springs 23, 24: and 95 ins pnfec'on being at the end of the us 12's this time keeping theont-irel'yseparated; but as this n. 1: es back to its normal ordepressed position "one linger 21 then rcngages this j ."iOH o liS becksicle, thereby forcing n ngs 23, and momentarily (og einei' and thusproducing the release 0p- "Hiiion of the calling device As the hookmoves to its raised pcsition, the arm with the insulation 21- engzigesthe projecting ling of the locking-arm 20, thereby remlving it around apoint 20*, the latteri the hook rises, the insulation 21 ens the noiiion20, already started, and ere-by raises the arm 90 'r of locking position. Also, as the puruon 21 moves out of contact with the ground-spring19, this spring is thereby ulhiwecl to rest against the insulation 20.This, it will be seen, is the position of the spring 19 until the firstpariial rotation of the. iilfll 0ccurs'thut is to sayftlie first partialrotation made by the calling subscriber in oi-iier to send impulsescort'esponiiiiu so the digit of tl e called sub; ibers number, it beingnecessary to partially rotate the dial and then release it and allow itto i'ClZlli'll to its normal position in order in accomplish the desiredmake-and-breel: action in the grounded lineciicuit, resulting in thetransmission of eleci' cal impulses corresponding to the first digit ofthe called number; and when this is clone, i'ilfi pin &3 of tile armstrikes against the lower edge of the lockingmm 20, thus raising itsufficiently to allow ilie elbow in the encl of the spring 19 to slipunder the bushing 20. This, of course, allows the spring 19 to make'oniact with the arm. 18% saicl spring 15 being ordinarily known as aground-spring, and the finger 18 as a ground-post. As the hook moves toits depressed position, the bushing 21 again lifts the spring 19 out ofContact With the Also, when ilic spring 19 is iii-tell out of engagementwith ills bushing 7 of some suitable insulating material.

20, the arm 20 then moves back to its norinal position, inasmuch as itis then actu ated by its spring; 4L0. fitter this, the arm 20 once moreper torms the function of lockinc; the dial against movement when theriver is on the hook. The detail construction of this locking device isshown fully in Fig. The projecting finger 4?)" of the arm rot when thedial is in its normal pos' m, against the spring of the tillh'lli thusholding it so that when the receiv is removed from the hook, the spring2.) will immediately make contact with such spring; hut when the dial ismoved forward, the portion -13 is then disengaged from the spring 30,thus'pcrnntting the latter to hreal: contact with the spring; 25).Secured to the lHIDHlFUWl'ICQl 12 of the calling device, there is a dog"which is held normally in contact with the teeth of the gear-wheel 18,and which operates in a manner similar to the (lo- 5- attached to thereceiver-hookthat is I say, as the dial rotates in a forward direction,this dog passes freely ov r the teeth of the gearrrneel it but as thedial begins to rotate in a lmelnvard direction, in order to recover itsnormal }')osi'tion, and to control the hack- Ward speedt-t the dial,under the tension of the spring, this dog then engages the gearwheelcausing the latter to revolve in unison. This, ot course. actuates thecenirriiugral governor, which latter, however, will he descril'icdfarther on in. connection with other matters. The said gear-wheel is,will be observed, caused to revolve or rotate when the hook is moveddownward, or when the dial is moved by the tension of the cloth-spring.The teeth of this gearvvheei engagzjes with the teeth of a pinion 9,this lining: shown in Figs. 2, t3, 8 and 9, and the pinion heingsl'ioivn in cross-section in 5, and in end elevation in Fig. t. It "mayhe stated at this juncture that this pinion i: a part of the so-calledgovernor or you z-niz r device-that the device which vontr the peer: ofthe dial" when it rotates in a haw! ti direction, and the speed ofclrhool'; when the latter is returned to it: no mal position. Upon theend. of the pinion are pivoted the two parts 32 and 32 wh ch, lrllit!)t-z ther, term a circle, the part 3:2 r. no pivot at the point. 2-32,and the part 32 being pivoted at the point 32 lhe;-:e are held normallytogether, the circle living completed by means of the springs 32".'these two part are formed as shown in err in if. g. 5, andare adaptedto lit loosely upon the cup-shaped ring 3%, which lat ter is rigidlyfastened to the frame of the calling: device. New, this pinion 9revolves quite rapidly, when actuated by the geanwheel -18, the ends ofthe parts 32 desired number on the face of the'dial.

and 32 farthest away from the respective pivots 32 and 32 fly out oraway 1 m the axis of rotation, and thus to a certain extent revolveabout their respective pivots 32 and 32. This, of course, will cause abinding of these parts against the StfitlOflflTy e shaped ring 32producing sufilcient iction to reduce the speed of the ,g ttT-Wl'lfffil4.8, in case the rotation becomes too fast' The impulse-wheel 12, whichis rigidl cured to the shaft 7, carries the arm llfthaving" a singleprojecting tootl'n 'hlo'unted upon the frame of the calling device, andrigidly fastened to it, there is a vertical impulse-spring 15 and also arotary iinpulse-spring 17, the same being so placed or disposed thatthey will come in contact With the teeth of the impulseheel. Thesesprings are shown more cl arly in 1, 1(3 and 21, the shape of thesesprings being shown more clearly in Fi s. l4 and 15. The so-calledvertical, ll llplllfl ,pring 15 is COD1 posed of the two parts hr and15' the part 15 being so arranged that, as it moves away from the spring15, the said spriz Y 1 5 will tend to follow it, While iii moved in theop posite direction, against the spring 15, it will then cause thelatter to move with it.

Obviously, as the dial is moved :t'mwa hy the calling subscriber, thepositions then ccupied by the vertical teeth are shown in spring; 1:")in (contact with the arm 18 and givmo it the one long vertical nnpu;This impulse, produced by a temporary ound in at the vertical side ofthe calling si=h- ,ihers line, lasts the full length of t1 required tomove the dial tori ard to again make a momentary contact with theground-arm 18; and then, as the dial eontinues to rotate, the spring 15will again be forced out of contact with the poriior i by the teeth 12*,and so on by the oil teeth in succession, giving the required no 1:

menses ber of impulses in rapid succession. Immediately after the lastvertical impulse is made, the spring 17 then moves into con tact with asingle tooth on the arm 13, thus forcing it against thegroun'd-arm l8,and thus giving the single impulse over the rotary-line-conductor-thatis, the single impulse which always follows a group of impulsestransmitted over. the vertical-lineconductor for the purpose ofperforming an operation corresponding to one digit of the called number.The position of the so called vertical spring at this juncture is shownin Fig. 21. Fig. 17 shows the posi- 'tion 'of the so-called rotaryspring at the .time the dial is again to rotate in a for- Ward directionunder the manual force ex- ;erted by the calling subscriber. Fig. 13 isa" cross-section taken on a line just at the leftof the impulse-wheel 12shown in Fig. 3.

Asiillustrated, a fiber portion 50 is fastoned to the frame forconvenience in carry-- ing the Wires or flexible conductors so, with theconstruction set forth, a clip i1 is fastened to the frame, therebypermitting electrical connection to be made bet seen the wiring and theframe of the calling device. It will thus be seen that We have devised avery efiioient form of calling device which is normally locked againstrotation and in which the initial or forward operation of the dialproduces a prolonged impulse over one side of the line and the returnmovement of the dial produces a plurality of impulses over one side ofthe line followed by a single impulse over the opposite side of theline. I

While We have illustrated and described. one specific embodiment of ourinvention, it will, of course, be understood that We do not wish tolimit ourselves to this exactconstruction, as various changes andmodificatime will be readily suggested to those skilled iii-the art.

What, We claim as our invention is:

1. A telephone system comprising subscribers calling device orelectrical impulsetransmitting mechanism including a rotatable dial anda normally-open groundswitch, said dial beingadapted by its :tor-

' ward rotation to temporarily close the said ground-switch, and adaptedby its return rotation to again close the said groundswitch.

2. A. telephone systemcomprising subscribers calling device including arotatable dial and anormally-open switch, said dial being adapted by itsforward "rotation to temporarily close the switch, and adapted by itsvreturn rotation to again close the switch.

A telephone system comprising a subscrihers' combined hook-switch andcallinu mechanism. said mechanisn'i comprising a rotatable dial adaptedby its forward rot-ation to transmit an electrical impulse, and by itsreturn rotation to transmit one or more additional impulses, centrifugalgoverning mechanism for controlling the return movements of both thedial and the switchhook. i. A combined hook-switch and calling mechanismcomprising a rotatable dial and normally-open switch, said dial beingadapted by its forward rotation to temporarily close said switch, and byits return rotation to again close the switch, and centrifugal governingmechanism for controlling the return movements of both the dial and thehoolcswitch.

A subscribers mechanism for calling the number of any othersubscriber,"comprising a rotatable member and means whereby such memberis adapted by its forward rotation to transmit an electrical impulsesubstantiall} equal in duration to the forward rotation given the memberand. adapted by its return rotation to transmit either none or one ormore relatively short electrical impulses, according to the degree ofrotation given the dial.

'6. In a telephone system, an impulse transmitter including a callingdial adapted to be operated forward a variable dis tance then returnedto normal position, and a pair of normally separated contacts adapted tobe closed during the forward movement of said dial and then momentarilyclosed a plurality of times, depending upon the extent of movement ofsaid dial, during the'return of said dial to normal position.

7. in a telephone system,- an impulse transmitting device including aground connection, a pair of normally open spring contacts forcontrolling said ground connection, a switch hook for normally lockingsaid transmitter against operation, means controlled by the upwardmovement of said switch hook ,ifor unlocking said transmitter. meanscontrolled by the initial operation of said transmitter. for closingsaid contact springs and ground connection, and means controlled by thesubsequent operation of said transmitter for intermittently operatingsaid contact springs.

8. In a telephone system, an impulse transmitting device including arotary calling dial, a ground connection, a pair ofnor mally opencontacts controlling said connection, a switch hook normally lockingSaid calling dial against rotation, means operated by the upwardmovement of said switch hook for i'lnlockiug said dial, means controlledby the forward movement of said dial for closing said contact springsand said around COIIIIGGlfIOIl, and means controlled by the subsequentoperation of said transmitter for intermittently operating saicl Contactsprings.

9. In a telephone system, an impulse transmitter including a callingdial adapted to be operated in a fofward direction a Variable distanceand then returned to normal. position, and a pair of normally separatedcontacts adapted to be closed for a comparatively long period during theforward movement of said dial and then momentarily memos closed aplurality of times, depending upon the extent of movement of said dial,during the return of said dial to normal position.

Signed by us at Chicago, Cook county, t Illinois, this 6th day ofSeptember, 1905.

ALEXANDER E. KEKTH. JC HN ERICKSON. CHARLES J. ERICKSUNQ Witnesses:

EDW. D. lfiALrae, J. Noam.

